Author: Chris

Very zippy indeed today, charging home in 5:43. Didn’t get 1ac at first go so started with 4ac 6ac and worked quickly down the left and up the right finishing with 1ac and then 5dn. … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2081 by Izetti (Izippi!)”

An enjoyable QC – a quick solve but a challenge to hit target – 21ac took me 9 seconds over target of 10 minutes. I count that a win for Hurley! Definitions are underlined. Across … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2076 by Hurley”

Well, this one nearly went on the ‘too hard’ pile. After 8 minutes there were whole swathes of blanks in the grid. 13dn then 3dn cleared the log jam to some extent but I was … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2071 by Pedro”

8 minutes for a quick QC. Oink makes an appearance or two in this pleasant and enjoyable solve. Definitions are underlined. Across 1 A mistake, whichever way you look at it (4) BOOB – a … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2066 by Oink”

After a slow start, I sped up considerably and had completed all bar 5dn in 8 minutes. The LOI bug then struck me down and I didn’t yield to treatment for 1.5 minutes. Having now … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2061 by Izetti”

All bar the last few clues were happily put to bed in 5 and half minutes. The last four (1dn, 17ac, 18dn and LOI 20ac) stayed up late and took just over another three mintues. … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2056 by Mara”

In stark contrast to last Tuesday’s blog, today’s is full of sweeetness and light. Answers flew in right across the grid. Although LOI 23ac threatened to spoil the party (for no apparent reason), it then … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2051 by Tracy”

I found this a very testing tease from our setter today. I hope I was just having a bad day, because, unlike many from this setter, I found today’s puzzle rather dry and prickly (like … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2046 by Teazel”

8:30 for an approachable QC today – although I nearly tripped myself up at 1dn. Otherwise, plenty of short answers helped and many clues simply ‘fell in’. Hopefully the SCC will have fewer members today … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2041 by Hurley”

A tough ask from Jalna with the odd unknown definition and plenty of knotted parsing which took me 14 minutes to unravel. Enjoyed the challenge though! I suppose you’ll now let me know that you … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 2036 by Jalna”